Celebrating your birth- with a list!

Long-time readers know about my annual birthday list.  New readers might need a quick overview of the concept: Every year, I write a list of things to do before my birthday that corresponds with the number of years of living I have just celebrated. The idea was to add daring, challenge, fun, vitality, and true intentional living to my daily life.  It has been a revolutionary challenge for me.  Over the years, I’ve learned to swim, cycle, and surf because of the list.  I’ve completed endurance events, refreshed my CPR skills, taken my parents on vacation, paid off my student loans, grown vegetables, read a lot of books, become a better cook, photographer, painter.  The list is my starting point for each year’s vision.  I’ve never completed the entire list in a year, but it certainly keeps me living out loud and vital.  I am so certain that this list makes a difference in living an intentional, vibrant life that I included it as an exercise in Beautiful You.  Day 32, as a matter-of-fact.   

I am just under 6 months ’til my 38th birthday so I figured it was time to look at my 37 things list. 

Here is where things stand: 

I’ve completely accomplished 5 things on the list including trying acupuncture, spending a night away from Happy with BF, and taking a cooking class.

I’m well on my way with seven others like clean out our attic (1/2 down and the other half will be done by mid-June), wean our possessions (the house has been weaned, now it’s just a matter of finishing the attic), expand my cooking repertoire, further photography skills, and read 37 books (24 read including Room, How to Talk to a Widower, Raising Your Spirited Child, and Half a Life). 

I feel certain that there are at least seven more things I can absolutely finish this summer like learn how to roast a chicken, research adoption options, learn about college savings plans, relearn how to change bike and car tires,  getting back into painting, creating a perfect back porch space, and enjoying leisure time

I’m less positive (but hopeful) that I can also knock out taking surf lessons again this summer.  And I am losing all hope on the garden that I still haven’t planted yet in my beds.  Maybe fall vegetables?  

And then the likely won’t happen until fall list which includes organzing my parents’ house, taking my dad to a professional football game (if there’s a football season.  Hey, Roger Goodell, can you get on that so you don’t dash my dad’s dreams?), taking my mom to the Biltmore House to see their gardens, taking a personal retreat, and going to at least five performances. 

So that’s the latest on my 37 things list.  Did you write a list for your year or as part of Beautiful You?  If not, where do things stand for you?  If not, begin to draft your list today.  Is your birthday more than six months away?  If so, write a list of things that adds up to half your age.  Less than six months?  Write a list the represents a quarter or third of your age, depending on the amount of time you have until your birthday.  Now, take just one thing and figure out when and how you are going to accomplish it.  Oh, and share some of your celebratory to do items here!